Why Educate on Cyber Security?

The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Trade Commission, and myriad computer experts are urging Americans to secure their home computers to prevent national cyber attacks and to protect their own sensitive computer files. Properly securing home computers not only can prevent loss of sensitive computer files but also serve national security interests.

As America increasingly moves to broadband, security becomes evermore important. By just taking some basic precautions, home computer users can help secure the nation's digital grid by preventing hackers from using their computers as a platform to launch attacks. Also, Americans are keeping more and more sensitive information on their home computers. They should take steps to assure that their information is safe and secure. The below statistics show that education is necessary:

• "Undefended home and small business computers Š are vulnerable to attackers who can employ the use of those machines Š to launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on key Internet nodes and other important enterprises or critical infrastructures." )The White House, National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace)
• 35% of broadband users who responded to a recent Consumer Reports questionnaire (June 2002) do not have an active firewall installed. (FTC Safe Computing Fact Sheet)
• 80-90% security breaches occur because people don't patch their software. In spite of this, less than 23% of consumers actually download patches. (FTC Safe Computing Fact Sheet)
• Over 50% of computer users fail to update their virus protection software; they assume that just having it installed is enough. (FTC Safe Computing Fact Sheet)